Baez, who represented Casey Anthony, takes on Ocala murder case

Published: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 12:57 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 12:57 p.m.

Casey Anthony’s former defense attorney may soon make an appearance in a Marion County courtroom.

Jose Baez is now the lead defense attorney in the Stevin Roopnarine murder case. Roopnarine is accused of shooting LaVar Watson, an Iraq War veteran, in the back of the head on Christmas night in 2011.

Assistant State Attorney Rock Hooker, the lead prosecutor handling the case, confirmed that he had spoken with Baez several times on the phone.

Baez filed a notice of appearance as Roopnarine’s defense attorney in Marion County circuit court on Feb. 15, demanding the discovery in the case.

“It’ll be months before he will be ready for trial, he just got the file last week,” Hooker said on Tuesday.

The case was originally set for trial on March 11. Hooker said he was a little bothered by the forthcoming trial delay since he was ready to try the case.

According to court records, Circuit Judge Sandra Edwards-Stephens wrote an order granting a continuance of the trial, scheduling it for Dec. 16.

Roopnarine’s current defense attorney, Jack Maro, will remain on the case with Baez.

“He decided that he was bored in Orange County,” Maro joked when first asked about Baez’s involvement in the case.

In reality, though, Maro said the Roopnarine family asked for another pair of eyes on the murder case.

“They asked for the names of some lawyers, and they decided to hook up with Jose (Baez),” Maro said.

Baez famously represented Anthony, who was acquitted of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in 2011 after a six-week trial in Orlando that captivated the nation.

Baez could not be reached for comment.

On Christmas night, 2011. Roopnarine and co-defendant Ashley B. LeVelle, 22, met up with Watson at the Hollywood 16 movie theater in Ocala. LeVelle and Watson had reportedly met on an online dating site and scheduled a date for that night.

LeVelle and Roopnarine, who was a mobile phlebotomist at the time, had met up earlier in the day because Roopnarine had asked for a ride to Munroe Regional Medical Center.

The trio left the movie theater when Roopnarine asked for a ride to a friend’s house in Belleview. Sitting in the back seat of the car, Roopnarine allegedly fired three shots at Watson, who was sitting in the front passenger seat. Watson was hit in the back of the head and the shoulder.

Roopnarine then reportedly asked LeVelle to help him get Watson’s body out of the car and dump it on the side of a road.

Roopnarine has a different story, however. He said LeVelle fired the shots and planned the entire incident. He claims he was asleep in the back seat of the car and awoke to gunfire.

<p>Casey Anthony's former defense attorney may soon make an appearance in a Marion County courtroom.</p><p>Jose Baez is now the lead defense attorney in the Stevin Roopnarine murder case. Roopnarine is accused of shooting LaVar Watson, an Iraq War veteran, in the back of the head on Christmas night in 2011.</p><p>Assistant State Attorney Rock Hooker, the lead prosecutor handling the case, confirmed that he had spoken with Baez several times on the phone.</p><p>Baez filed a notice of appearance as Roopnarine's defense attorney in Marion County circuit court on Feb. 15, demanding the discovery in the case.</p><p>“It'll be months before he will be ready for trial, he just got the file last week,” Hooker said on Tuesday.</p><p>The case was originally set for trial on March 11. Hooker said he was a little bothered by the forthcoming trial delay since he was ready to try the case.</p><p>According to court records, Circuit Judge Sandra Edwards-Stephens wrote an order granting a continuance of the trial, scheduling it for Dec. 16.</p><p>Roopnarine's current defense attorney, Jack Maro, will remain on the case with Baez.</p><p>“He decided that he was bored in Orange County,” Maro joked when first asked about Baez's involvement in the case. </p><p>In reality, though, Maro said the Roopnarine family asked for another pair of eyes on the murder case.</p><p>“They asked for the names of some lawyers, and they decided to hook up with Jose (Baez),” Maro said.</p><p>Baez famously represented Anthony, who was acquitted of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in 2011 after a six-week trial in Orlando that captivated the nation.</p><p>Baez could not be reached for comment.</p><p>On Christmas night, 2011. Roopnarine and co-defendant Ashley B. LeVelle, 22, met up with Watson at the Hollywood 16 movie theater in Ocala. LeVelle and Watson had reportedly met on an online dating site and scheduled a date for that night.</p><p>LeVelle and Roopnarine, who was a mobile phlebotomist at the time, had met up earlier in the day because Roopnarine had asked for a ride to Munroe Regional Medical Center.</p><p>The trio left the movie theater when Roopnarine asked for a ride to a friend's house in Belleview. Sitting in the back seat of the car, Roopnarine allegedly fired three shots at Watson, who was sitting in the front passenger seat. Watson was hit in the back of the head and the shoulder.</p><p>Roopnarine then reportedly asked LeVelle to help him get Watson's body out of the car and dump it on the side of a road.</p><p>Roopnarine has a different story, however. He said LeVelle fired the shots and planned the entire incident. He claims he was asleep in the back seat of the car and awoke to gunfire.</p><p>LeVelle's next scheduled court date is in April.</p>